Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

End of the Checkout Line: the Looming Crisis for American Cashiers

posted by martyb on Thursday August 17 2017, @02:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the who-is-going-to-ask-if-I-want-fries? dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

72 years after [Clarence Saunders] attempted to patent his idea, advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are making the dream of a worker-free store a reality. And American cashiers may soon be checking out.

A recent analysis by Cornerstone Capital Group suggests that 7.5m retail jobs – the most common type of job in the country – are at "high risk of computerization", with the 3.5m cashiers likely to be particularly hard hit.

Another report, by McKinsey, suggests that a new generation of high-tech grocery stores that automatically charge customers for the goods they take – no check-out required – and use robots for inventory and stocking could reduce the number of labor hours needed by nearly two-thirds. It all translates into millions of Americans' jobs under threat.

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
End of the Checkout Line: the Looming Crisis for American Cashiers | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 104 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:13PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:13PM (#555352)

    So, will the savings from not having to pay Cashiers go to lower prices (customer benefit), or to higher profits (corporation/shareholder benefit). I'd like to not be cynical, but I have a strong feeling it will be higher profits, while the customer does all the work.

  • (Score: 3, Touché) by DannyB on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:17PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:17PM (#555357) Journal

    Stores can enjoy the savings of not paying cashiers while I move my retail shopping to Amazon.

    --
    To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.

  • (Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:42PM (1 child)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:42PM (#555372) Homepage Journal

    Both. Wal-Mart's business model, for example, demands they make their money primarily on volume rather than profit margins. If they can save a dime, at least half of it will go to lowering prices rather than profit.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:49PM (#555379)

      Nope. Wherever Walmart has created a monopoly by driving out all competitors, save a few niche boutique retailers, it's all Pr0fit!!!